The Old Bailey heard that the explosive device was packed with more than 4lbs of nails, screws and knives that was made to cause "maximum carnage".

The bomb contained the explosive triacetate triperoxide (TATP) which was inside a Tupperware container in a white bucket placed in a Lidl supermarket bag.

The explosion ripped through the packed District Line carriage on a rush hour Tube train leaving some commuters badly burned while others were injured in the following stampede.

Prosecuting Alison Morgan said "Many ran in fear and panic. They were fortunate. Had the device fully detonated, it is inevitable that serious injury and significant damage would have been caused within the carriage."

A bucket with a burning item inside it and wires coming out of it is seen on the floor of an District Line train carriage at Parsons Green stationSylvain Pennec/Reuters